Government drops charge against Norman

General Andrew Leslie, grandson of Moosomin's General Andrew McNaughton, last week announced he would not run again as a Liberal and showed up on the witness list for Norman

May 9, 2019, 3:10 am

The Crown has dropped the charge of breach of trust against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, citing new information that was brought forward by his defence in March.

Federal prosecutor Barbara Mercier said there was no longer a reasonable prospect of conviction in the case that had become politically charged. The new information brought “greater context … that we were not aware of,” she said.

Mercier added that some of Mr. Norman’s actions were secretive and inappropriate, saying, as one witness put it, “he crossed the line.” She also said there was no interference.

Defence lawyer Marie Henein said the case has been a “profoundly painful” time for Vice-Adm. Norman and his family to sit silent and patient for two years, adding the vindication in court on Wednesday was a bittersweet victory.

She called for his immediate return to civil service.

Norman was the head of the Canadian Navy when the federal Liberal cabinet decided to review the contract given to Davie Shipyard. Norman has always maintained he leaked no information. Former Liberal Treasury Board President Scott Brison, who has resigned from cabinet and will not run in the next election, walked into a Liberal cabinet meeting with a letter from the Irving family, which controls the Irving shipyard asking for a chance to bid on the contract that had already been awarded.

Norman was removed from his post as head of the Navy by the Liberal government. The man who was the head of the army at the time, General Andrew Leslie, the grandson of Moosomin's General Andrew McNaughton, announced last week that he would not run again as a Liberal, and appeared on the witness list of Admiral Norman, showing he was prepared to testify for Norman and against the federal government he served as Liberal Whip.